General Chat

Rebecca Brooks has been found not guilty of all charges of phone hacking but former News of the World editor Andy Coulson found guilty at the Old Bailey in London of conspiring to hack phones - more verdicts to come.

Brooks's former personal assistant Cheryl Carter was cleared of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Brooks's husband Charlie and NI director of security Mark Hanna were also cleared of perverting the course of justice.

Retired managing editor Stuart Kuttner was also cleared of being part of a conspiracy dating back to 2000 and spanning six years.

The jury is still considering further charges against Coulson and former News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office by paying police officers for two royal directories.

In July 2011 the Prime Minister David Cameron said in the House of Commons "I have an old-fashioned view about innocent until proven guilty. But if it turns out I have been lied to, that would be the moment for a profound apology. In that event, I can tell you I will not fall short"

Having told the House of Commons that he would make a profound apology if it emerged that Andy Coulson lied over his involvement in illegal phone hacking, now that Coulson has been found guilty - will the Prime Minister now do this, will he do it publicly at the Dispatch Box in the House of Commons or will he release something through a spokesman via the media, and how profound will his apology be?

David Cameron has just been on the news making an apology for employing Coulson but I didn't think it was much of an apology - very short and perfunctory.

Kath. x

I think the reason for the time gap from the time the verdict was issued till he "sneaked" out his apology via Sky - was he needed to check with Maria Miller his ex Culture Secretary on how to make an apology - remember her 31-second apology over the issue surrounding her expenses:-D

He has the audacity to call that apology "full and frank" - full and frank my ? (I won't say it) his apology was a cop out and in my view feeble, he should have come to the House of Commons and stood at the Dispatch Box to make his apology - Prime Ministers Questions tomorrow should be quite interesting ;-)

I am saying absolutely nothing about the verdict (please read into that what you will)

Sue

saying nuffin' either :-D

All I will say is Where there is smoke there is fire. :-D :-D

I agree, no smoke without fire, and this whole issue is hidden in thick smoke, money buys power and many of those involved were part of the so called Chipping Norton Set - consisting of powerful political and media figures, and this elite clique certainly had both of these. The Prime Minister should not be allowed to brush the issue aside with the feeble apology he issued yesterday.

He needs to explain why he ignored advice from his Director of Strategy Steve Hilton, his Chief of Staff Ed Llewellyn, the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat Peer Paddy Ashdown, the Labour MP Tom Watson.

All of these individuals warned the Prime Minister about appointing Andy Coulson, not least the Prime Minister needs to explain why he did not allow Andy Coulson to be subjected to the normal security checks which are usually carried out on prospective Downing Street employees - let's face it Andy Coulson was no ordinary employee he was the Prime Ministers Director of Communications, right at the heart of Downing Street.

Everything surrounding this saga stinks :-|

I am watching This Morning and there is a very interesting perspective being voiced by somebody involved with the case.

I am not saying I agree with them but they are extremely interesting.

it's all extremely fishy

Cameron's getting a real mauling at PMQs.

Well deserved.

One does wonder if the jury had consisted of more men whether or not she would have been found innocent!

I do think that women have an aversion of finding others guilty and then sending them to prison........

Me, I think they were all guilty as hell.

:-D

I expect her book will be out soon . :-|

Didn't learn anything new on this topic during PMQs. Just a lot of hot air interrupted occasionally by the two main mealy-mouthed protagonists.

Deplorable politics.

I just wonder how much Coulson will have to be paid to keep his mouth shut :-D

We can't have been watching the same programme, Dermot. What was deplorable was the abusive cat calling and whining from the Tory back benches.

Guinevere: Selective deafness - that's my problem!

And just to make the Prime Minister's day - the judge in the trial has severely criticised David Cameron from the bench. The judge Mr Justice Saunders rebuked David Cameron for commenting on the conviction of Andy Coulson while the phone-hacking trial was still going on, the judge said he consider that what has happened was unsatisfactory so far as justice and the rule of law are concerned.

The Prime Minister made his apology yesterday outside the chamber of the House of Commons, so I don't think it would be covered by Parliamentary Privilege - perhaps Mr Justice Saunders should have had the Prime Minister brought before him for Contempt of Court, that might have got rid of this weak prime minister and hopefully brought the government down ;-)